Arab summit backstage: Algeria opposes Saudi request for the Syrian opposition to take Al-Assad's seat

In alliance with the Iraqis, the Algerian delegation to the Arab Summit is adopting a strict stance against giving Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s seat to the head of the Syrian opposition’s National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba, who is supported by Saudi Arabia.

The Arab Summit launched in Kuwait on Tuesday. Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad closed the morning session with a lunch invitation expressing his hope that a compromise could be reached after intense differences emerged between the Arab leaders over how to fill Syria’s seat, with the UAE and Bahrain supporting Saudi Arabia’s proposal to give the empty seat to the National Coalition, Jordan expressing its concern and Algeria strongly opposed to giving Syria’s seat to Jabra. Egypt did not publicly announce its stance.

Fourteen Arab leaders met during the evening session. The first speaker was Jordan’s King Abdullah II. However, it seems that behind the scenes, the Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is adamant that Syria’s seat in the Arab Summit be given to the National Coalition.

According to members in the media delegation taking part in the summit, other tensions between the Arab leaders are also obvious. Rai Al-Youm learned that the Qatari and Saudi delegations exchanged differing remarks about Egypt: Qatar’s Crown Prince Tamim praised the Egyptian people’s mobility and activism; but Prince Salman warned against terrorism.